Reducing fluidizer and method of fluidizing



- Feb. 3, 1931. H, LYKKEN I REDUCING FLUIDIZER AND METHOD OF FLUIDIZINGFiled Feb. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 3, 1931. HGLYKKEQ 1,791,100

REDUCING FLUIDIZER AND METHOD OF F'LUIDIZING Filed Feb. 16, 1923 5.Z-Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Feb. 3, 1931v HENRY G. LYKKEN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTAREDUCING FLUIDIZER AND METHOD FLUIDIZING Application filed February 16,1928. Serial No. 254,678.

The present invention relates to reducing fiuidizers and the method offluidizing.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel method offluidizing or re- 6 ducing material to a fine state by the energy ofahigh velocity stream of fluid acting upon the surface of a bed or bodyof material and novel means whereby such method may be effected.

Another object is to provide such novel method and means for effectingthe reduction of the material in a circuitous path or passage from whichthe incompletely reduced particles are returned for re-reduction, andthe 13 stream of fluid and entrained particles arediverted or deflectedinto a separating means for the separation of the finer from the coarserand heavier particles, the fluid with the fines being conducted, with orwithout the 29 use of a regulatable by-pass, to a place of use,collection, storage or the like, the byass being used to return saidfluid to the uid forcing means for re-use. The course of the actuatingfluid may be deflected with the en- 25 trained particles for theseparation of the incompletely reduced particles, and the bed ofmaterial held from bodily movement by a-retarding or anchoring means forholding a part of the bed in place when acted upon. Feeding of thematerial may be eflected by suitable feeding means for maintaining thebed to the proper amount or mass for proper action thereon by the fluidstream.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities and 33 features are comprehendedby the invention as will later appear and are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical sectionand partly in ver- 43 tical elevation of a device constructed inaccordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectiontaken in a plane represented by line 2-2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings; Fig.3 is a'horizontal sectional view 4 taken through a separating means, ina plane represented by line 3-3 in Fig. 1 of the drawings; Fig. 4 is afragmentary perspective view of a means for regulating the actuatingfluid stream; Fig. 5 is a 'view similar to Fig.

50 1 showing an alternate form of separating means partly in section andartly in vertical elevation and Fig. 6 is a orizontal sect 1onal viewtalxen in a plane represented by lme 6-6 in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

I Referring now more in detail to the draw-. mgs, the embodimentsselected to illustrate the invention are shown as comprising a chamber 1in the lower part of which is located a bed of material 2 which may bemaintained in a predetermined or given amount by supply 0 material froma hopper 3 located at the side of the chamber 1, and having therein asuitable feeding device 4 which maybe operated in any suitable manner.The feeding device is preferably located in the outlet5 of the hopper.Within the chamber 1 is rovided a closed inner chamber 2 extendingtransversely through the casing of the machine so as to rovide aroundthe chamber 2 a passage 6 o circuitous form, the chamber 2 being taperedor in the form of a dihedral angle at the side where the material isintroduced, and having a rounded or part cylindrical tportion 7 spacedfrom a curved portion 8 o the casing, and a corrugated or ribbed retardmeans such as a plate 9 as clear ly shown in the drawings.

Beneath the hopper is provided a passage 10 extending inwardly into thelower part of the casing, and having anozzle 11 at the upper part ofwhich is a gate or control valve 12 connected to a transverse shaft 13extending to the exterior of the material and adapt- I ed to be operatedby any suitable means for raising and lowering the valve and controllingthe size of the orifice 14 of the nozzle 11.

The upper part of the chamber communicates with a separating chamber 15in the upper part of which is located a separating means comprising acircular series of vanes 16, which in the form shown in Fig. 1, areinclined to the axis of the device and located between a plate 17 and aring 18 and secured thereto. To the plate 17 is secured a rod 19 whichextends upwardly through the top wall 20 of a n exit or-outlet passage21, the rod 19 being provided with a plurality of apertures 22 to whichmay extend, selectively a pin 23 for holding the rod in any givendesired height, clearly as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The outlet 21 is connected at one side with a duct or passage :21adapted for conveying the fluid and suspended tine material to a. placeof use, collection, storage or the like. ()u the opposite side of themember 21 may also be connected a by-pass section or duct .25 and a duct26 leading back to the passage 10, the duct part 26 having a controlvalve 27 for regulating the by-passage of fluid for return to thepassage 10.

In Fig. 5, the construction is similar to that described in connectionwith Figs. 1, i2, 3 and 4 with the exception that the separating meanscomprises a circular series of vanes 28 disposed substantially parallelto the axis of the device, and connected between plates 29 and 30. Tothe plate 29 the rod 19 is connected, which rod has the perforations 22for the selective engagement. therewith of the pin 23 for the holding ofthe separating means at given vertical height. Within the chamber 15 isalso placed a hollow cone 31 having the small end thereof extendingdownwardly at or beneath the lower part of the separating vane device28. The vanes 28 are of curved form as shown in Fig. (3 of the drawings.

lln the operation of the device, the feeding device 4 acts to maintain abed of material 22 in the lower part of the chamber 1. so thatadditional material may be su iplied from the hopper 3 to the said bedof material, and thus maintain an approximately given amount therein, i.e. so as to replace the material which is removed by the fluid stream. Afluid, such as air, is supplied under high pressure through the passage10 and projected from the nozzle 11 in the form of a streamat highvelocity into the circuitous passage 6, beneath the hollow chamber 2 soas to cause the same to act upon the surface of the bed, and to passrmwardly between the rounded part 7 of the chamber 2 and the retardingmeans 9. This will cause an entraining of particles of material from thesurface of the bed and the passing upwardly of the entrained materialinto the upper part of the chamber 1, the material taking a more or lesscircuitous movement. As the fluid and material is deflected by passingbetween the rounded part 7 and the retard means 9, and pass into thespace of the upper part of the chamber 1, gravity will cause the heavierparticles to drop out and course down the inclined surface of thetapered part of the chamber 1, and to be united with the material beingfed to the bed from the feeding means, for re-reduction. These lastmentioned particles will be again engaged by the stream issuing from thenozzle and be projected against the surface of the fluid bed wherebyimpacting of'partiele upon particle will act to reduce the same. Theefiect of menace the fluid stream is to cause transverse stresses to themoving layers of the material particles, whereby the inner layer of thecircuitous path will move at a greater rate than the outer layer andwill cause the layers to rub one upon the other with suflicientdestructive force as to cause particles to press against particles andreduce the same.

The mixture of the fluid and entrained particles projected into theupper part of the chamber 1, will proceed u iwardly into the chamber 15and pass througi the spaces between the vanes 16 of the separatingmeans, or the vanes 28 of the separating means shown in Fig. 5. Theheight of the separating means will control the fineness of theparticles that will be carried upwardly into the outlet 21. The coarseror heavier particles will be caused to travel downwardly into thechamber 1 and toward the feeding means to be reunited with the materialbeing fed to the bed. The fluid with the fines will then pass throughthe duct 2% to the place of use, collection, storage or the like. In oneuse of the device, sufiicient lluid is used to mix with sutlicieut line)articles to make a coinhustihle mixture 0 fuel whereby the same may beburned in a combustion chamber of a furnace. YVhere an amount of fluidis used in excess to that necessary to make a combustible mixture, theexcess fluid may be passed back through the by-pass so as to be againused with the incoming lluid passing through the passage 10. This may becontrolled by the valve 27, as desired.

The stream may be regulated by operation of the valve 12 so as toincrease the volume or decrease the same in accordance with the desiredaction upon the material within the lower part of the machine. Theretard menu her 9 will act to prevent abodily movement pf the materialaround the chamber 2. thus anchoring or holding the main portion of thebed in place whereby the stream or fluid may act upon the surfacethereof as above described. By means of the adjustable air inlet nozzle,a desired velocity, such as twenty thousand pounds per minute can bemaintained at any rating up to the capacity of the equipment. When,however, operation is made with lower velocities using more fluid thanrequired for supplying the fines to the point of use, the by-pass maythen be used for returning the excess fluid as above stated.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown illustrativeembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the latter isnot limited thereto, but may comprehend other constructions, details,arrangements of parts and features without departin fromthe spiritthereof.

aving thus disclosed the invention, I claim: 1. A method of pulverizingmaterial comprising providing a normally stationary bed of material,forcing a stream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bedof material, so that particles of said material will be entrained bysaid stream, and the entrained particles will be caused to impactagainst the said surface and against each other, and supplyingadditional material to said bed as the entrained particles are removedtherefrom. v

2. A method of pulverizing material comprising providing a normallystationary bed of material, forcing a stream of fluid at high velocityover the surface of said bed of material, so that particles of saidmaterial will be entrained by said stream, and the entrained particleswill be caused to impact against the said surface and against eachother, and supplying additional material to said bed as the entrainedparticles are removed therefrom, and deflecting the stream and entrainedparticles of material for separation of large and heavy particles.

3. A method of pulverizing material comprising providing a normallystationary bed of material, forcing a stream of fluid at high velocityover the surface of said bed of material, so that particles of saidmaterial Will be entrained by said stream, and the entrained particleswill be caused to impact against the said surface and against each other,.and supplying additional material to said bed as the entrainedparticles are removed thurefrom, and deflecting the stream and entrainedparticles of material for separation of large and heavy particles, andreturning the separated larger and heavier particles to said bed forfurther reduction.

4. A method of pulverizing material comprising producing a normallystationary bed of material, forcing a stream of fluid at high velocityover the surface of said bed of material so that said material Will beentrained by said stream. and the entrained particles will be caused toimpact against the said sur face and against each other, and supplyingadditional material to said bed at a given rate so as-to maintain anapproximtely constant volume of material in the bed. I

5. A method of pulverizing material comprising producing a normallystationary bed of material, forcing a stream of fluid at high velocityover the surface of said bed of material so that particles of saidmaterial will be entrained by said stream, and the entrained particleswill be caused to impact against the said surface and against eachother, de-

flecting the stream and entrained particles of material for separationof the larger and heavier particles, whirling the stream and entrainedparticles for separating the finer from the coarser particles, andsupplying additional material to said bed as the entrained particles areremoved therefrom.

6. A method of pulverizing material comprising producing a normallystationary bed other, deflecting a part of said of material, forcing astream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bed ofmaterial so that particles of said material will be entrained by saidstream, and the entrained particles will be caused to impact against thesaid surface and against each other, retarding the movement of a part ofthe entrained material, and supplying additional material to said bed asthe entrained particles are removed.

7 A method of pulverizing material comprising producing a normallystationary bed of material, forcing a stream of fluid at high velocityover the surface of said bed of material so that articles of saidmaterial Will be entrained y said stream, and the entrained particleswill be caused to impact against the said surface and against eachother, retarding the movement of a part of the entrained material,creating transverse stresses in said stream. and entrained ma terial forreducing the particles thereof, and supplying additional material to thebed as the entrained particles are removed therefrom.

8. A method of pulverizing material comprising producing a normallystationary bed of material, forcing a stream of fluid at high velocityover the surface of said bed of material so that particles of saidmaterial will be entrained by said stream, and the en-,

trained particles will be caused to impact against the said surface andagainst each other, retarding the movement of a part of said entrainedmaterial, deflecting the fluid stream and entrained particles ofmaterial velocity stream of fluid over the surface of said bed so thatparticles of said material will be entrained by said strerm and theeutrained particles will be caused to impact against the said surfaceand against each other, causing said stream and entrained material totake a circuitous path deflecting a part of the stream and entrainedparticles from said circuitous path, and supplying additional materialto said bed as the entrained particles are removed therefrom.

10. A method of pulverizing material comprising providing a normallystationary bed of material, forcing a high velocity stream of fluid intoa circuitous path about a horizontal axis and over the surface of saidbed .of material so that particles of the material will be entrained bythe stream and the entrained particles will be caused to impact againstthe said surface and against each uid stream and the entrained particlesfrom said circuitous path, returning the larger and heavier particles tosaid bed for further reduction, and supplying additional material tosaid bed as the entrained particles are removed therefrom.

11. A fluidizer of the character described comprising a chamber havingmeans for providing a normally stationary bed of material, means forforcing a stream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bedof material so as to entrain particles of said material and causing saidparticles to impact against said surface and against each other, andmeans for supplying additional material to said bed as the entrainedparticles are removed therefrom.

12. A fluidizer of the character described comprising a chamber havingmeans for providing a normally stationary bed of material, means forforcing a stream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bedof material so as to entrain particles of said material and causing saidparticles to impact against said surface and against each other, meansfor supplying additional material to said bed as the entrained particlesare removed therefrom, and means for regulating the energy of said fluidstream.

13. A fluidizer of the character described comprising a chamber havingmeans for providing a normally stationary bed of material, means forforcing a stream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bedof material so as to entrain particles of said material and causing saidparticles to impact against said surface and against each other, meansfor supplying additional material to said bed as the entrained particlesare removed therefrom, means for regulating the energy of said fluidstream. and retarding means for holding said bed of materia againstbodily movement.

14. A fluidizer comprising a chamber provided with a circuitous passagehaving a part thereof open to said chamber. means for providing a.normally stationary bed of material in said passage. means for forcing astream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bed ofmaterial so as to entrain particles of the material and to cause theentrained particles to impact against said surface and against eachother, and means for supplying additional material to said bed as theentrained particles are removed therefrom.

15. A fiuidizer comprising a chamber provided with a circuitous passagehaving a part thereof open to said chamber, means for providing anormally stationary bed of material in said passage, means for forcing astream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bed ofmaterial so as to entrain particles of the material and to cause theentrained particles to impact against said suri,'lei,ioo

face and a ainst each other, means for supplying additional material tosaid bed as the entrained particles are removed therefrom, and means forregulating the energy of said fluid stream.

16. A fiuidizer comprising a chamber provided with a circuitous passagehaving a part thereof open to said chamber, means for providing anormally stationary bed of material in said passage, means for forcing astream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bed ofmaterial so as to entrain particles of the material and to cause theentrained particles to impact against said surface and against eachother, means for supplying additional material to said bed as theentrained particles are removed therefrom, and means in said chamber forseparating the finer from the coarser and heavier particles and forreturning the last mentioned particles to said bed.

17. A fluidizer comprising a chamber provi ded with a circuitous passagehaving a part thereof open to said chamber, means for providing anormally stationary bed of material in said passage, means for forcing astream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bed ofmaterial so as to entrain particles of the material and to cause theentrained particles to impact against said surface and against eachother, means for supplying additional material to said bed as theentrained particles are removed therefrom, means in said chamber forseparating the finer from the coarser and heavier particles and forreturning the last mentioned particles to said bed, and means forconducting the finer material with the fluid to a place of use.

18. A fluidizer comprising a chamber provided with a circuitous passagehaving a part thereof open to said chamber, means for providing anormally stationary bed of material in said passage, means for forcing astream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said bed ofmaterial so as to entrain particles of the material and to cause theentrained particles to impact against said surface and against eachother, means for supplying additional material to said bed as theentrained particles are removed therefrom, means in said chamber forseparating the finer from the coarser and heavierparticles and forreturning the last mentioned particles to said bed. means for conductingthe finer material with the fluid to a place of use, and a by-passbetween said conducting means and said fluid-stream-forcing means forreturning part of the fluid conducted from said separating means. I

19. A fluidizer comprising a chamber provided with a circuitous passagehaving a part thereof open to said chamber, means for providing anormally stationary bed of material in said passage, means for forcing astream of fluid at high velocity over the surface of said the materialand to cause the entrained particles to impact against said surface andagainst each other, means for supplying additional material to said bedas the entrained particles are removed therefrom, means in said chamberfor separating the finer from the coarser and heavier particles and forreturning the last mentioned particles to said bed, means for conductingthe finer material with the fluid to a place of use, a by-pass betweensaid conducting means and said fluidstream-forcing means for returningpart of the fluid conducted from said separating means, and means forregulating said bypass.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

HENRY G. LYKKEN.

